Vapor trap system for detecting volatile organic chemical vapors

ABSTRACT

A vapor trap for detecting VOCs includes a housing, having a first end portion, a second end portion and at least one opening for receiving gas vapor. The housing is at least partially buried in ground with a vapor containment mechanism detachably connected to the first end portion of the housing. The vapor containment mechanism can be removed and replaced with a vapor sampling mechanism. An organic vapor analyzer can be connected in fluid relationship to the vapor sampling mechanism to measure VOCs. Optionally, a vacuum pump can be utilized to draw vapor into the vapor trap and then subsequently into the organic vapor analyzer. There can be a first selector valve located between the vapor sampling mechanism and the vacuum pump and a second selector valve located between the vapor sampling mechanism and the organic vapor analyzer. A preferred organic vapor analyzer is a photo-ionization detector.

CROSS REFERENCES

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/962,950filed Sep. 25, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,068.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of gas detectionand, more particularly, to an apparatus for trapping volatile organicgasses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although gas and vapor are two terms that are typically usedinterchangeably, the term “gas” is normally used for substances thatexist completely as gases in room temperature. An example of a gas isoxygen. The term “vapor” is more commonly used for substances thatgenerally exist as a liquid or solid at room temperature, althoughcertainly capable of being present in a gaseous phase. Vapor pressure isa physical property of specific materials and is normally measured at astandard temperature of 77° Fahrenheit (25° Celsius). Chemical liquidsor other substances that have a vapor pressure greater than thesurrounding atmospheric pressure will evaporate into the atmosphere as avapor and then diffuse outwards until an equilibrium pressure anduniform concentration is reached. Normally, the diffusing vapor (or gas)will reach equilibrium sooner if the volume of the space into which thevapor diffuses is confined or otherwise limited, as in a container, roomor beneath a foundation slab. When the available volume into which gasesor vapors can diff-use is limited, the resulting vapor pressure andgaseous concentration may reach equilibrium with the evaporating solidor liquid parent material (liquid being the more common of the two typesof parent material) and no more material will evaporate. In thissituation, the material will exist side-by-side in two different phases.If the available volume into which a gas is diffusing is essentiallyunlimited, such as the atmosphere itself as found in an uncoveredoutdoors location, the material will continue to evaporate and diffuseuntil it is all in the vapor state and the gaseous concentrations are solow as to be difficult to detect. Materials that have a tendency toevaporate at standard temperature and pressure are said to be volatile.If the materials are also organic compounds, they are called volatileorganic compounds (“VOCs”).

A nonlimiting example of a VOC is perchloroethylene (also known by anassortment of common other names including perc, perchloroethene,tetrachloroethylene, tetrachloroethene, and a variety of trade names),the most widely used chemical in the dry cleaning industry. Perc has avapor pressure greater than the normal atmospheric pressure of 14.7p.s.i. at standard temperature and therefore behaves as a VOC and willevaporate. As a liquid, perc has a low interfacial tension and viscosityand readily penetrates into and through typical concrete slabfoundations. Once pere has penetrated through a concrete slab into thesubsurface beneath, perc begins or continues to evaporate. Theaccumulating perc vapors do not normally have sufficient pressure tomigrate back upwards through the concrete slab (although human exposureto indoor VOC vapors moving upwards through expansion joints, cracks andother penetrations in slabs can become a problem). More often, the percvapors effectively become trapped below the concrete slab in the porespaces within the soil. These perc vapors move laterally away from thesource area, passing from pore space to pore space within the soil untilthe vapors become widely diffused in the subsurface beneath the concreteslab. The rate at which the VOC vapors accumulate and migrate depends onthe amount of the liquid chemical that has been released, the organiccontent and the nature of the soil itself and the amount of fluid(normally water) that is also present in conjunction with the VOC or isalready residing in the pore spaces.

It is important to detect VOC vapors as close to the source of therelease as possible. A basic risk-based closure of facilities that havehad a minimal impact or exposure to a VOC, e.g., perc, normally coststens of thousands of dollars, even without the undertaking of anysignificant remediation or cleanup effort. Facilities that aresignificantly impacted, such as perhaps including ground watercontamination, easily run into hundreds of thousands of dollars forremediation. This does not include the lost business opportunities,third party liability considerations and other miscellaneous damageclaims.

There are a number of systems that monitor the VOC content of the air.Typically, these systems are expensive and difficult to maintain. If thesubsurface impacted to the extent the VOC is in the aboveground air in aconcentration that is capable of detection, the expense can already beoverwhelming in terms of remediation and liability. Examples of thistype of technology include that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,034,which issued on Sep. 5, 1978.

The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of theproblems set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a vapor trap for detecting VOCsis disclosed. This system includes a housing, having a first endportion, a second end portion and at least one opening for receiving gasvapor, wherein the housing is at least partially buried in ground and avapor containment or a vapor sampling mechanism is detachably connectedin a fluid relationship to the first end portion of the housing.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is that VOC releases can bedetected before the costs for investigation and clean up becomeexorbitant.

Still another aspect of the present invention is that VOC releases canbe detected before tenants are overwhelmed with inconvenience andexpense, which can force the tenant to vacate the premises or propertyowners to evict the tenant.

Another aspect of the present invention is that VOC releases can bedetected before contamination spreads to affect other tenants andproperty owners to create third party liability.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is that VOC releases can bedetected while the contamination is restricted to soil since thecontamination of ground water raises the remediation costs andcomplications significantly.

Another aspect of the present invention is that VOC measurements can bemade by technicians without the need of highly specialized,environmental professionals.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is that obtaining VOCmeasurements on a predetermined basis will demonstrate to an insurancecompany that the land owner is pro-active about pollution and has theability to minimize potential problems, which should result in reducedinsurance premiums.

Still another aspect of the present invention is that obtaining VOCmeasurements on a predetermined basis will provide land owners with amechanism for checking on the general housekeeping practices of a tenantto correct unsatisfactory work practices that can create additionalspills and releases of VOCs as well as allowing the land owner to repairleaking equipment.

Another aspect of the present invention is that obtaining VOCmeasurements on a regular basis provides the tenant with a reminder thatthe landowner is very serious about preventing pollution.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is that obtaining VOCmeasurements on a predetermined basis provides evidence that mayexonerate either the land owner or the tenant if accused of being asource of a VOC spill or keep either the land owner or the tenant frombeing falsely blamed as being the cause of unrelated contamination thatis either located on-site or off-site.

In another aspect of the present invention is the quick (less than aday), low cost (less than half the price of a regular Phase 1environmental site assessment) installation with minimal disruption anddowntime that can be done with separate self-contained equipment thatprevents electrical overload situations at the property where theinvention is being installed.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is that very specificconstituents in the vapor can be analyzed to minimize false alarms.

Still another aspect of the present invention is that installed vaportraps can be easily removed.

Another aspect of the present invention is that the monitoring of thevapor traps on a predetermined basis can be established through servicecontracts so that these costs can be budgeted as a regular operatingexpense.

These are merely some of the innumerable illustrative aspects of thispresent invention and should not be deemed an all-inclusive listing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may bemade to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic process diagram of the vapor trap systemassociated with the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of a vapor trap associated with thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the vapor trap with an installed plug,shown in FIG. 2, associated with the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a coupling for the vapor trap, shownin FIG. 2, associated with the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of a plug for the vapor trap associatedwith the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of a plug for the vapor trap, shown inFIG. 5, associated with the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of an installed plug within a couplingattached to a housing, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, associated with thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of a vapor sampling mechanism associatedwith the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of the vapor sampling mechanism, shown inFIG. 8, for the vapor trap associated with the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a detailed side view of an installed vapor samplingmechanism including a support structure on a plug cap installed within acoupling attached to a housing, shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, for the vaportrap associated with the present invention; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic process diagram of an alternativeembodiment of the vapor trap system utilizing a three (3) way valveassociated with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have notbeen described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. Forexample, the invention is not limited in scope to the particular type ofindustry application, e.g., dry cleaning.

Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, where FIG. 1 isa vapor trap detection system of the present invention, which isgenerally indicated by numeral 10. This vapor trap detection system 10of the present invention provides an early warning capability againstunknown spills, leaks or other releases of volatile organic compounds(“VOCs”) that have somehow reached the ground's shallow subsurface. Thisparticularly includes dry cleaning chemicals, such as perchloroethylene(“perc”) as an illustrative, nonlimiting example.

There is a vapor trap for collecting perc and other VOC vapor that isgenerally indicated by numeral 12. This vapor trap 12 is preferablyinstalled in a strategic shallow subsurface where chemical releasespotentially occur. The accumulation of detectable vapors in a belowgrade trap is a direct indication that a VOC, e.g., perc, is present andgenerating vapors in the ground's shallow subsurface under a concreteslab 46. The initial presumption would be that a significant release ofVOC has occurred at the facility. However, this release may be nothingmore than a simple spill that has not been cleaned up. Even though therelease occurs during a mere moment in time, the effects can be aroundfor a very long period of time. The presence of a VOC can be detected asearly as twelve (12) hours after the release.

As shown in FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment includes tubing 14extending from and in fluid connection with the vapor trap 12. Thetubing 14 is fluidly connected to the bottom inlet 26 of a t-connector17. A first side outlet 27 of the t-connector 17 is attached in a fluidrelationship through tubing 5 to an inlet 30 for a first selector valve16. The outlet 31 for the first selector valve 16 is connected to tubing8 that is attached in fluid relationship to a vacuum pump 20. When thefirst selector valve 16 is open, vapors can be pulled out of the vaportrap 12. A wide variety of commercially available vacuum pumps willsuffice in this application, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,699,570, which issued on Oct. 13, 1987. Although a vacuum pump 20 ispreferred, the vacuum pump 20 is not required in utilizing the vaportrap detection system 10 of the present invention.

In addition, the second side outlet 28 of the t-connector 17 is attachedin a fluid relationship through tubing 6 to an inlet 32 for a secondselector valve 18. The outlet 33 for the second selector valve 18 isconnected to tubing 7 that is fluidly attached to an input 35 for anorganic vapor analyzer 22. There is an output 36 for the organic vaporanalyzer 22 that is electrically connected to a computer 24 throughcable 21.

The computer 24 can be a single computer processor or a whole series ofcomputer processors. In addition, any of a wide variety of electroniccontrollers may suffice.

An organic vapor analyzer 22 is commercially available and disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,563,335, which issued Oct. 8, 1996 and U.S. Pat. No.5,099,437, which issued on Mar. 24, 1992, which are both incorporatedherein by reference. The preferred type of organic vapor analyzer due tothe low cost and simplicity of operation is a photo-ionization detector(“PID”). A nonlimiting example of a PID is that disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 6,225,633, which issued on May 1, 2001, which is incorporated hereinby reference.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the vapor trap 12 includes a housing 13 that ispreferably in the form of a tube and can be manufactured out of a widevariety of materials. The preferred material for the housing 13 ispolyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) tubing. Although a wide variety of outerdiameters will suffice, a two (2) inch (5.08 centimeters) outer diameterwith schedule forty (40) PVC is preferred for most applications.Although the preferred shape is cylindrical, virtually any geometricshape will suffice.

The housing 13 for the vapor trap 12 preferably includes slots 15,screens or some other type of openings to allow for the intake of VOCvapors. The range of distances between the slots 15 can vary extensivelywith the preferred range between slots 15 being 0.010 inches (0.0254centimeters) to 0.020 inches (0.0508 centimeters).

The vapor trap 12 is preferably installed into and through the floor ofthe facility. A preferred, but nonlimiting, distance is approximatelytwo (2) feet (60.96 centimeters) down into the ground 48 underneath thefacility. Since perc has been known to penetrate typical concrete slabs46, which are typically five (5) inches (12.7 centimeters) to six (6)inches (15.24 centimeters) thick found in most commercialestablishments, the accumulation of detectable vapors in a below groundvapor trap 12 is a direct indication that a VOC, e.g., perc, is presentin the ground 48 and generating vapors in the shallow subsurface. Theinitial presumption would be that a significant release of perc hasoccurred at the facility and has been undetected until this point intime.

The vapor trap 12 includes a pointed end cap 40 attached to the bottomof the housing 13 while the top of the housing 13 preferably includes asolid portion 42 that is unslotted.

The vapor trap 12 is preferably installed by coring through the concreteslab 46 with an industrial diamond-tipped coring bit (not shown). Theconcrete core (not shown) is removed to expose the surface of the ground48 beneath the concrete slab 46. A cylindrical hole 50 is then dug intothe ground 48 beneath the concrete slab 46 using an auger or other means(not shown).

The housing 13 of the vapor trap 12 is then placed into the cylindricalhole 50 and the walls of the cylindrical hole 50 are filled with aporous medium 44 with sufficiently large pore spaces to permit vapormovement up to within a few inches of the surface of the ground 48. Apreferred, but nonlimiting example, of a porous medium 44 includes atransmissive washed pea gravel. The installation is completed by pouringin a sealing material 52 to position the housing 13 in a predeterminedlocation. A preferred, but nonlimiting, example of sealing material 52is non-shrink concrete grout. Typically, there is a layer of sand 47located above the ground 48 and below the concrete slab 46.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a coupling 56, is attached to enclose a topportion of the solid portion 42 of the housing 13. On the top portion,e.g., top half, of the inside of the coupling 56 are internal threads 54and on the bottom portion, e.g., bottom half, on the inside of thecoupling 56 is an unthreaded portion 57. This attachment is between theunthreaded portion 57 of the coupling 56 that preferably encloses thetop portion of the solid portion 42 of the housing 13. Attachment ispreferably accomplished by the use of adhesives with a low VOC content,although a wide variety of attachment mechanisms will suffice. Thecoupling 56 can be any of-a wide variety of diameters with the preferredinside diameter being two (2) inches (5.08 centimeters). On the insideof the coupling 56 are internal threads 54. This coupling 56 ispreferably a standard PVC-type of coupling that has a smooth outersurface.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, there is a plug 58 having external threads 60on the outside of the circumference of the plug 58 that threadedlyinterconnects to the internal threads 54 of the coupling 56. Thepreferred outside diameter of the plug 58 being two (2) inches (5.08centimeters). The top portion of the plug 58 includes a slot 62, asshown in FIG. 6. This plug 58 is preferably a standard PVC-type of plug.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the plug 58 is installed into the coupling 56by the interconnection of the internal threads 54 and the externalthreads 60 where the solid portion 42 of the housing 13 is locatedinside of the coupling 56.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, a vapor sampling mechanism 63 isdisclosed. This includes a sampling vapor tubing nipple 64 that isattached to a support structure 66. The support structure can be of anygeometric shape but is preferably rectangular having a cavity or openinginside. The sampling vapor tubing nipple 64 is secured to the top of thesupport structure 66 by an optional nut 68 that engages outer threads 70located on a bottom portion of the sampling vapor tubing nipple 64.However, the preferred structure eliminates the nut 68 and uses atapered sampling vapor tubing nipple 64 to secure the sampling vaportubing nipple 64 to the top of the support structure 66. This taperedsampling vapor tubing nipple 64 is tapered from base to tip such thatwhen the tapered sampling vapor tubing nipple 64 is screwed into thesupport structure 66, the outer threads 70 get tighter and tighter. Thistapered fitting for the sampling vapor tubing nipple 64 is airtight andsecurely fastened without the need for the optional nut 68. Thepreferred materials for the sampling vapor tubing nipple 64 include bothbrass and stainless steel.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an installed vapor sampling mechanism 63 isrevealed, which includes the sampling vapor tubing nipple 64 that issecured to the top of the support structure 66 by a nut 68. This wherethe plug 58 has been previously removed from the coupling 56 by anapplication of a screw driver-type device in the slot 62 of the plug 58,shown in FIG. 6, and applying a counter-clockwise rotation to threadedlydisengage the external threads 60 of the plug 58 from the internalthreads 54 of the coupling 56. The support structure 66 is fixedlyattached to the top of a cap plug 72 or is an integral part thereof.There are external threads 74 on the cap plug 72 that threadedly engagethe internal threads 54 of the coupling 56. The preferred outsidediameter of the cap plug 72 being two (2) inches (5.08 centimeters).

The installed vapor sampling mechanism 63, which includes the samplingvapor tubing nipple 64, can be formed out of a wide variety ofmaterials. The preferred material can include plastic so that the finalinstallation of the installed vapor sampling mechanism 63 can look likea plastic cap. After measuring a sample with the vapor samplingmechanism 63, the cap plug 72 is threadedly removed from the internalthreads 54 of the coupling 56 and is then replaced with the plug 58where the plug 58 having external threads 60 threadedly interconnectswith the internal threads 54 of the coupling 56.

Referring now to FIG. 11, as a first alternative embodiment, thet-connector 17 and the first selector valve 16 and the second selectorvalve 18 may be replaced by a single three (3)-way valve that isgenerally indicated by numeral 80. The tubing 14 extending from and influid connection with the vapor trap 12 is fluidly connected to thebottom inlet 81 of the three (3)-way valve 80. A first side outlet 83 ofthe three (3)-way valve 80 is attached in a fluid relationship to thevacuum pump 20 via tubing 8. A second side outlet 82 of the three (3)wayvalve 80 is attached in a fluid relationship to the organic vaporanalyzer 22, e.g., PID cell via tubing 7. This operates in the samemanner as the previously described preferred embodiment, where both thefirst side outlet 83 can be selectively opened or closed and the secondside outlet 82 can be selectively opened or closed. There is the minordisadvantage of added complexity and expense for the three (3) way valve80, which can be prone to leakage.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is advantageously applicable in testing for thepresence and nature of VOC vapors. When readings are desired, the plug58 is threadedly removed from the coupling 56. The cap plug 72, having asupport structure 66 with sampling vapor tubing nipple 64, is thenthreadedly engaged to the coupling 56 through the interaction of theinternal threads 54 of the coupling 56 and the external threads 74 ofthe cap plug 72.

There is tubing 14 attached to the sampling vapor tubing nipple 64,which is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The tubing 14 goes from the samplingvapor tubing nipple 64 to the bottom inlet 26 of the t-connector 17. Thefirst side outlet 27 of the t-connector 17 is connected through tubing 5to an inlet 30 to a first selector valve 16. The outlet 31 of the firstselector valve 16 is attached via tubing 8 to a vacuum pump 20, however,for the initial reading, the first selector valve 16 is closed. Gasenters the vapor trap 12 through the bottom inlet 26 of the t-connector17. The gas enters through the second outlet 28 of the t-connector 17,which is connected to tubing 6 that is attached to an inlet 32 to asecond selector valve 18, which is open for the initial reading. Bothtubing 5 and 6 are preferably short, e.g., only a few inches or less, tominimize the dead air space between the first side outlet 27 for thet-connector 17 and the inlet 30 for the first selector valve 16 and thedead air space between the second side outlet 28 for the t-connector 17and the inlet 32 for the second selector valve 18.

The outlet 33 of the second selector valve 18 is attached via tubing 7to an input 35 for the organic vapor analyzer 22. The preferred type oforganic vapor analyzer 22 is a photoionization detector (“PID”). The PIDis a field instrument that indicates whether or not airborne VOCs arepresent. If only air is present (no VOCs) in the vapor trap 12, noreading will be shown on the PID. If VOCs are present, the PID willprovide a reading in parts per million (“ppm”). The PID cannot indicateexactly what type of VOC is present, however, a portable gaschromatograph can be used for this purpose. This further identificationmay be desirable when the VOC in question might be perhaps somethingother than perc.

There is first an initial reading, which is the result of accumulatedvapors collected in the vapor trap 12 over a predetermined time period.A nonlimiting example of a predetermined time period for accumulatingvapors is ninety (90) days. This initial reading is due to the fact thatthe organic vapor analyzer 22 pulls a vacuum and creates a negativepressure drop, which causes soil vapors to move from the pore spaces inthe soil (where the pressure is relatively higher than within the vaportrap 12) into the vapor trap 12.

After the initial reading, the first selector valve 16 would be turnedoff and the second selector valve 18 would be turned on to seal theorganic vapor analyzer 22, e.g., PID cell, and aggressively pull morevapors into the cell from the surrounding ground 48 with the vacuum pump20. This vacuum from the vacuum pump 20 is much stronger than the vacuumproduced by the organic vapor analyzer 22 and would pull vapors from thesurrounding soil faster than the vacuum created by the organic vaporanalyzer 22, e.g., PID cell, as well as vapors that are relativelyfurther out from the vapor trap 12 than those that can only be drawn infrom the vacuum of the organic vapor analyzer 22, e.g., PID cell.Therefore, this secondary reading may provide different values than theinitial reading.

After running the vacuum pump 20 for a short period of time, e.g., five(5) minutes, the vacuum pump 20 will be shut-off and the first selectorvalve 16 will be turned off and the second selector valve 18 will openedand the organic vapor analyzer 22, e.g., PID cell, will be turned backon. As these vapors are pulled in by the lower vacuum of the organicvapor analyzer 22, e.g., PID cell (as opposed to the first reading ofthe passively accumulated vapors over the predetermined period),readings are taken for this post vacuum period. It has been found thatthe dead air space between either the first side outlet 27 or the secondside outlet 28 to either the first inlet 30 of the first selector valve16 (when closed) or the first inlet 32 of the second selector valve 18(when closed) does not affect either the efficiency of either theorganic vapor analyzer 22, e.g., PID cell or the vacuum pump 20.

The pre-vacuum and the post-vacuum readings would be compared. Thesecomparisons of either two similar or two different readings, utilized inconjunction with soil and chemical property knowledge along withknowledge of the ultimate disposition and transportation of differentsubstances, e.g., VOCs, in a variety of different media, provideinvaluable insight into the potential distance and severity of aheretoforeundetected release of VOCs.

The cost of basic risk-based closures of facilities having minimal percimpact is in the tens of thousands of dollars without performing anyactual remediation or clean up. Facilities suffering from significantperc impact, which perhaps involves groundwater, can require hundreds ofthousands of dollars of remediation. This does not include lost businessopportunities, third-party liability considerations and othermiscellaneous damage claims.

This invention need not be limited to dry cleaning establishments only,but can be applied to any building or facility regardless of thecommercial or industrial setting. The organic vapor analyzer 22 willsimply need to be adapted to respond to a different application.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention can beobtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vapor trap for detecting VOCs comprising: a housing having a first end portion, a second end portion and at least one opening in said second end portion for receiving gas vapor, wherein said second end portion of said housing is at least partially buried in ground; and a vapor containment mechanism detachably connected to said first end portion of said housing.
 2. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vapor containment mechanism further comprises a coupling operatively attached to said first end of said housing and a plug threadedly engaged with said coupling.
 3. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first end portion and said vapor containment mechanism is above ground.
 4. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one opening further comprises a slot.
 5. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a plurality of openings selected from the group consisting of: a screen having a mesh size of approximately 0.020 inches or less; and slots with any two adjacent slots separated by a distance ranging from approximately 0.010 inches to approximately 0.020 inches, inclusive.
 6. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing is cylindrical and is comprised of polyvinyl chloride tubing.
 7. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a vapor sampling mechanism operatively connected to said first end portion of said housing and proximate to ground level.
 8. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said vapor sampling mechanism further comprises a vapor tubing nipple connected in fluid relationship to said first end of said housing.
 9. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a vacuum pump fluidly connected to said vapor sampling mechanism.
 10. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 9, further comprising an organic vapor analyzer fluidly connected to said vapor sampling mechanism.
 11. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a first selector valve fluidly connected between said vacuum pump and said vapor sampling mechanism.
 12. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a second selector valve fluidly connected between said organic vapor analyzer and said vapor-sampling mechanism.
 13. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said organic vapor analyzer further comprises a photoionization detector.
 14. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a computer operatively conntected to said organic vapor analyzer.
 15. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a vapor transmissive material surrounding said second end portion of said housing.
 16. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 15, further comprising a sealing material above said vapor transmissive material and surrounding said first end portion of said housing.
 17. A vapor trap for detecting VOCs comprising: a housing having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said second end portion is buried in ground and has a first opening below ground for receiving gas vapor and wherein said first end portion is proximate to ground level and is an enclosed portion of said housing; a vapor transmissive material surrounding said second end portion of said housing; and a sealing material above said vapor transmissive material and surrounding said first end portion of said housing.
 18. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said enclosed portion further comprises a coupling attached to said first end portion of said housing and a plug operatively received by said coupling.
 19. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 18, wherein said plug is selected from the group consisting of a standard plug and a cap plug.
 20. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 19, wherein said standard plug and said cap plug are alternatively and removably engaged with said coupling.
 21. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 20, further comprising an organic vapor analyzer fluidly connected to said cap plug, wherein said organic vapor analyzer creates a vacuum and is operatively connected to a computer and wherein said cap plug is a vapor sampling mechanism.
 22. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 21, further comprising a vacuum pump, wherein said vacuum pump creates a vacuum greater than said organic vapor analyzer vacuum.
 23. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said sealing material is selected from the group of materials consisting of concrete, grout and non-shrink concrete grout.
 24. A vapor trap for detecting VOCs comprising: a housing having a first end portion, a second end portion and a first opening for receiving gas vapor, wherein said housing is at least partially buried in ground; a coupling operatively attached to said first end portion of said housing; a vapor sampling mechanism detachably connected to said coupling; and a plug alternately and selectively detachably connected to said coupling.
 25. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 24, wherein said vapor sampling mechanism and said plug are threadedly engagable with said coupling.
 26. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 24, wherein said at least first opening comprises a slot.
 27. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 24, further comprising a vapor transmissive material surrounding said second end portion of said housing.
 28. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 24, further comprising a sealing material above said vapor transmissive material and surrounding said first end portion of said housing.
 29. A vapor trap for detecting VOCs, including: a housing, having a first end portion, a second end portion and a plurality of slots for receiving gas vapor, wherein said second end of said housing is at least partially buried in ground; a vapor transmissive material at least partially surrounding said housing; a coupling operatively attached to said first end portion of said housing; a vapor sampling mechanism detachably connected to said coupling; a plug alternately and selectively detachably connected to said coupling; an organic vapor analyzer fluidly connected to said vapor sampling mechanism; a vacuum pump fluidly connected to said vapor sampling mechanism; and a selector mechanism fluidly connected between said vacuum pump, said vapor sampling mechanism, and said organic vapor analyzer.
 30. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 29, wherein any two adjacent slots are separated by a distance ranging from approximately 0.010 inches to approximately 0.020 inches, inclusive.
 31. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 29, wherein said organic vapor analyzer further comprises a photoionization detector.
 32. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 29, further comprising a computer operatively connected to said organic vapor analyzer.
 33. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 29, wherein said vapor sampling mechanism further comprises: a cap plug threadably engagable with said coupling; a support structure operatively attached to said cap plug; and a vapor tubing nipple attached to said support structure.
 34. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 29, wherein the selector mechanism includes a first selector valve fluidly connected between said vacuum pump and said vapor-sampling mechanism and a second selector valve fluidly connected between said organic vapor analyzer and said vapor sampling mechanism.
 35. The vapor trap, as set forth in claim 29, wherein the selector mechanism includes a three-way selector valve fluidly connecting the vapor sampling mechanism, the vacuum pump and the organic vapor analyzer. 